Originally Posted by
awerby
No Windows version later than 98 gives DOS the full access to the parallel port necessary to run a CNC application like TurboCNC. From 2000 on, all you get is "emulated" DOS, unless you dual-boot, which is tricky.
Mach3 is a good alternative if you want to stick with Windows 2000, and have a machine with a working parallel port. Parallel ports themselves are becoming pretty rare, so if you're trying to use a new machine that lacks one, you might need to get a Smoothstepper to run Mach3.
All the Best;
Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software
A PCI parallel port card will work with computers that don't have mainboard parallel ports and there are still some available that put out the proper 5v TTL logic signals. I have three of these cards that use LPT3 and require a driver for them that comes with the card. They claim to work with Win98, WinXp, Win2k, and Win Vista. I have only used them with WinXP so far. They were about $19 each.
CarveOne
CarveOne
http://www.carveonecncwoodcraft.com